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1~ CHAPTER ONE:'Overbearing parents
and three new people' ~
~September 1st, 1971~
'Val Moise-Othonos Pov'
(A/N: In honor of it being November third aka Sirius Blacks Birthday, here's the first chapter!)
"Τα μαλλιά σας! Σαμουήλ, νόμιζα ότι είπες ότι έκανες τα μαλλιά τους!"(Translation: Your hair! Samuel, I thought you said you did their hair! )
"Το έκανα!"( Translation: I did! )
"Λοιπόν, προφανώς δεν το κάνατε: τα μαλλιά τους είναι ένα χάος.Έχετε όλα όσα χρειάζεστε; Μελάνι, παπλώματα, επιπλέον ζευγάρια ρόμπες, όλα τα σχολικά σας βιβλία;Τα προσωπικά σας βιβλία; Ω, τι γίνεται με-" (Translation: Well, you obviously did not: their hair is a mess. Do you have everything you need? Ink, quills, extra pairs of robes, all your school books? Your personal books? Oh, what about- )
"Carissa." Samuel says while putting his hand on his wife's back.
"Ωραία, ωραία. Έχεις όλα όσα χρειάζεσαι, καρδιά μου?"( Translation: Fine, fine. Do you have everything you need, my heart? )
Val nods a yes. Carissa gives them a smile while bringing her hand up to Val's face.
"Καλό.Σταθείτε πιο ίσια δεν θέλετε να τσαλακώνεις το φόρεμά σας."(Translation: Good. Stand up straighter you don't want to wrinkle your dress. )
"Μαμά, σταμάτα! Παρακαλώ!" Val exclaims hair turning a deep Violet. Val just wanted to get on the train so they didn't have to deal with their parents nagging. They're ready to be by themself, to learn new things, and to actually talk to other people (well, they're still not sure if they want to actually talk to new people). But their mom keeps messing with their hair and worrying about everything. ( Translation: Mom, Stop! Please! )
"Εντάξει εντάξει, γράψτε μου τουλάχιστον τρεις φορές το μήνα. Κατάλαβες?" Carissa says to Val while running her fingers through Val's hair and kissing their cheek. ( Translation: Okay okay, write to me at least three times a month. Do you understand? )
"Understood. Όμως, πρέπει να πάω αλλιώς θα χάσω το τρένο." Val says while hugging their mum. ( Translation: But, I have to go or I am going to miss the train. )
"Εντάξει." Carissa says with a small frown. ( Translation: Right. )
"Mwen renmen ou, ensèk lanmou mwen. Fè anpil plezi, men se pa twòp plezi." Samuel says while crouching down to hug Val. ( Translation: I love you, my love bug. Have lots of fun, but not too much fun. )
"Oke, mwen renmen ou tou! I have to leave!" Val says while stepping out of their fathers embrace; Samuel hands Val their bag with a sad smile. ( Translation: Well, I love you too! )
"Write to me!" Carissa says to Val while grabbing Samuels arm.
"Okay! Goodbye!" Val says while running towards the train.
Val hears one last 'Have Fun, Amour!' before fully going on to the train.
~~~~~~
Val has been walking on this very long train for about 5 minutes when a boy runs right into them making them drop their bag out of their hands, and in the process making everything fall out.
The boy makes a weird squeak noise. "Oh, my Merlin! I am so so sorry!" The boy says quickly.
"It is fine. It was my fault, I should have watched where I was heading." Val says back to the boy, their hair turning from a black to a light gold while bending down to put everything back in their bag.
"Merlin, your hair is wicked! Oh, here let me help!" The boy kneels down to help Val pick up their things. "Also, where are you from? You don't sound English, well I mean you obviously speak English. Well, because you just spoke English. Sorry, I ramble a lot when I meet new people, and I don't meet a lot of new people. Well, today- Sorry, sorry." The boy rambles out.
"Oh, I'm Peter. Peter Pettigrew. By the way!" The boy Peter says while handing Val their last book. Val already likes Peter Pettigrew: something about him just screams he's a good person. Val needs more delightful people in their life.
"Well, I was raised in England." Val replies back to the boy.
"Really? Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am quite positive that I know where I was raised."
"Are you greek? You sound greek! But also like French, well actually scratch that, maybe not French but something else. I'm not really sure what."
"Indeed, in fact you have spectacular ears. My family originates from Greece and Haiti." Val says with a small laugh.
"Oh, uh Haitians speak French, right?" Peter asks.
"Not exactly, Haitian or Kreyòl is a French based language." Val says to Peter while standing back up.
"Wicked! Oh and again I am terribly sorry for running into you. I don't really look straight up when I'm walking! I probably should." Peter says with a small frown.
"There is no need for an apology. I was delighted to meet you, Peter. Good day." Val says, turning away. Like Val said they do need more per-say happy people in their life, but not right now. They really just want to be by themself .
"Wait, Miss! Uh, What's your name? You didn't tell me. I told you mine, it's only fair for me to know yours!" Peter calls out before Val walks away. Val didn't even realize they didn't introduce themself, their parents would be quite mad if they didn't be polite. The two things you should always say to somebody you just met for the first time is that it's nice to meet them and you always tell them your name.
"Oh, if you can please do not call me 'miss', I prefer not to be viewed as a girl or lady. I in fact tend to go by gender neutral terms and-"
"Merlin, that was SO insensitive of me to assume that yo-"
"No, no! I didn't say anything. It most definitely is not your fault."
"Sorry."
"Val."
"Huh?"
"Val is my name."
"Oh."
"Val Othonos."
"That's a cool name- Blimey! Like THE Othonos? Like the rich ones from Greece?" Peter says in a shock tone.
"Yes, like 'the rich ones from Greece'. On another note, it was really splendid to make your acquaintance. But, I must be going if I want to find a compartment. Good day." Val says with a smile.
"Oh wait, you don't have a compartment to sit in? I'm sitting in a compartment with my friend James and these two other blokes we met! You can sit with us!" Peter says with a bright smile.
"I'm thankful for the offer but I want to go sit by myself. If that is alright."
"Oh yeah, that's alright. It was so nice to meet you! I hope we talk again." Peter says while turning to walk away.
"See you again\, Peter."
"Bye, Val."
~~~~~~
Val is currently sitting in a compartment by themself reading 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings'; It's a muggle fantasy book their cousin Anthony gave to them, it's very good.
Val was finally at peace, no more parents nagging at them or boys running into them. That was until two people came hurling into the compartment out of breath. A girl with long black hair and a short shaggy brunette boy.
"OH! That was a close one! Jesus!" The boy says very loudly in the small compartment making Val wince.
"A close one? We were almost- Oh hi." The girl starts to probably lecture the boy until she sees Val sitting near the window.
"Hello?" Val replies back.
The girl clears her throat. "Sorry, we didn't see you there. I'm Tamia. Tamia Chu and this is-" The girl Tamia end her sentence by jabbing her elbow into the boy's stomach.
"Elijah Green." The boy says while clutching his stomach. "Can we?" Tamia asks while pointing to the seats opposite of Val.
"You may." Val answers with a tight lipped smile. Val watches as they sit down, basically analyzing them. The boy, obviously a muggle born or hangs out with them, was wearing black boot-cut trousers with a black tee tucked into them that says 'The Kinks' and then black trainers. He also looked like he had too much energy; he couldn't stop moving. Then the girl was wearing a brown skirt that came just above the knee, a blue jumper, and then brown court shoes.
"I am Val O-" A loud crash, the sound of laughter, and people running outside of the compartment cuts Val off. Val jumps, the sudden sound scaring them.
"OH MY GOD! You're a metaphor!" Elijah exclaims very loudly while pointing at them.
"What?"
"A metaphor! Tamia told me about them!"
"Uh, I'm a Metamorphmagus not a metaphor." Val says while their hair turns from a grey to a light orange.
"Merlin, I've never seen or met a Metamorphmagus! What else can you do? Can you control when your hair turns colours? Or does it have a mind of its own?" Tamia asks while leaning closer to Val.
"Oh, I can control my hair colour, it just takes a bit more concentration but my hair colour goes based on my emotions. Supposedly Metamorphmagi can change their body parts into anything they want but I haven't been able to do anything of the sorts. I mean they, we, can without any spell or potions. Or we can even change to look like a different person. My great aunt is also a Metamorphmagus, she's the only other Metamorphmagus I have ever met, and when she was younger she was able to change into different people with almost no effort at all! And have read some old books about," Val pauses realizing both of them are actually fully listening to them.
"Why'd you stop? What book?" Tamia asks at the same time Elijah asks "Your hair just turned a violet, what does that mean?"
"You both do not mind if I talk about this? Does it not bore you?" Val asks, a bit embarrassed they talked that long without stopping.
"What?! Of course not!" Elijah says with a big smile.
"No! Do you not talk to your friends about your interests?" Tamia asks while furrowing her eyebrows. Val was still embarrassed but now confused. Was she insisting that they were friends?
"I do not have any friends. Well, I never really had the chance too. I have only ever really been around my family and I do not think that my cousins really count as my friends." Val says with a small smile.
"But- But you're- we're eleven! So, what are you saying for a whole eleven years you have never left your house unless it's to go see your family?!!" Elijah says acting like Val has said that they killed his whole family not that they just do not have friends.
"Well, yes?" They say while their hair turns a deep shade of violet. They do not know why they feel embarrassed, Val thought it was mostly normal to not have friends until you are off to school or maybe they're just kidding themself they know their cousins who are near their age have many friends. But, Val has not one friend.
Tamia and Elijah look at each other almost like they are having a silent conversation, then they look back at Val, and both of them have huge smiles.
"The duo becomes a trio!" Tamia says while clapping her hands together.
"Yes!" Elijah exclaims while jumping up then sitting down next to Val. Val looks at Elijah with a confused look. "What?" They ask quietly.
"What was that old book you were talking 'bout? The one about Metamorphmagi?"
~~~~~~
Val is anxious. They thought the boat ride and the stunning view of the castle would calm their nerves but it seems it made them even more anxious. But now standing in the great hall is the worst thing that has ever happened to them: it's all hitting them at once. This hat will basically decide Val's future, and that's really scary. Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff: four words that each have so much impact on your life.
They also hate that their last name starts with an 'O', meaning they have to stand there for longer waiting for their future.
~
Val thanks Merlin or whoever is up there they are already about half way, or even more than half way, through the O's.
"Patrick Oliver!" Professor McGonagall calls out. Val watches as a freckled boy walks up the stool rather quickly and sits down. The hat isn't even on the boy's head for a full five seconds before it yells out. "Slytherin!" The Slytherin tables roar with cheer.
The next girl.
"Kennedy Organ!" "Slytherin!"
Then the next girl.
"Fiona Orris!" "Gryffindor!"
Then the next boy.
"Finley Osmen!" "Hufflepuff!"
Val was way too anxious to realize that they could be next.
"Valentine Othonos!" Oh, that's their name. The whole great hall erupts into chatter and shocked whispers. That didn't help Val's nerves at all. Deep breaths, deep breathes. Val walks forward to step on the first stair: all they are focusing on is that their hair doesn't change colours. The whispers and chatter grew louder.
"There's actually an Othonos going to Hogwarts!" "Merlin, are they actually a Othonos?" “Like the Othonos?” “The rich Greek family?” "But they don't look like a Othonos."
Before Val could sit on the stool the new headmaster yells "Silence!". Val and Professor McGonagall both look at the headmaster a bit stunned at that, Dumbledore looks at Val and the Professor and he lightly nods his head at them. Val turns and sits down. They take a deep breath while looking at all the students looking at them. They have never really liked attention like this, their eyes go to the Gryffindor table and they lock eyes with Elijah. He gives them a big thumbs up and smiles.
"Interesting. Very interesting. You're a difficult one." Val tries not to get started at that, their real focus is on their hair making sure it doesn't change colours. Being an Othonos already makes people talk about them. Do not get them wrong they love their family: it's just a bit too much sometimes.
"Mhm, you don't even know what house you want to be in! You are a strange one, Othonos. You have a kind heart and are one of the most loyal friends anyone could have, but you definitely have chivalry and bravery, you can also learn to be cunning and be a great leader, and your mind, you are curious about so much! You are so young and already have so much knowledge: oh and your wit! Ravenclaw might be the obvious choice but you could do so well in Slytherin and even Hufflepuff!"
"Ravenclaws sounds nice." Val thinks.
"Really? You really are strange, I wouldn't have expected you to pick Ravenclaw! Why not Hufflepuff or even Slytherin?" The Hat asks Val.
"I am not sure, if I am being honest. Ravenclaw sounds correct."
"Mhm, very interesting. Remember Valentine Othonos always be your true self. Ravenclaw!" The Hat yells out the house. The whole Ravenclaw table cheers louder than the other tables were. Val gets off the stool and walks over to the table with a smile. They can only really hope that they made the right choice. Val sits down next to what looks like a seventh or sixth year student.
"Naya Khatri, sixth year, and Head girl! Nice to meet you Valentine Othonos!" Naya says while grabbing my hand to shake it.
"It's just Val, not Valentine." I correct her.
"Well, just Val, I bet you will love it here in Ravenclaw! Hogwarts is your new home."